2012 Hilux clutch fails at 50000km

[gsh1po]

The clutch in my 2012 Hilux has just failed and the dealer told me its not covered by warranty because I have abused the vehicle. I have been driving 4wd's for over 30 years and have never blown a clutch despite putting a range of vehicles through much worse conditions than I have put my current vehicle through. I have paid the bill so that I could get on the road and have taken all the parts that I supposedly abused. I am now working on how I will turn the dealer and/or Toyota Australia around. I need to build a case around the number of failures that have occurred through normal wear and tear and would appreciate as much feedback from forum members as possible.

[clarkey1]

13000km after mine ..

[Steveyb]

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=3057&p=334521&hilit=clutch+poll#p330751

Try here.

Mine needed replacement at 32000k. Dealer done it for me without hesitation. All warranty. On it's way out again at 47000 and they said bring it in, we'll do it again

[wahza]

Mine went at 40000km's. Toyota refused to replace it under warranty as it's classed as normal wear and tear. Let me know how you go because I am trying to get reimbursed for mine as well

[Skrewdriver]

Mine went at 9500km, on a 2012 SR5 DC. The dealer dug there heals in and didn't want to replace it under warranty, but after a couple of nicely worded emails to Toyota Australia and the dealer in question, I got a phone call tell me to collect my car the next day as it would be ready with a new clutch. I left my car there. Not to be a killjoy, but I think that since you have already paid for it, it will be like trying to get blood out of stone. But best of luck with your battle.

[millsi]

Are the 2wd and 4wd clutches different?

[gsh1po]

I emailed Toyota Customer care the other day and they rang me today and agreed to ring the dealer to try to get a resolution. Fingers crossed but not overly optimistic at this stage.

[gsh1po]

I emailed Toyota Customer care the other day and they rang me today and agreed to ring the dealer to try to get a resolution. Fingers crossed but not overly optimistic at this stage.

[malua1@bigpond.com]

Hi,
I have a 2006 Hilux Dual Cab 4x4, and have had 3 clutches replaced all under warranty. The third clutch has done less than 20,000km. My vehicle was serviced today and I was advised that the clutch is faulty - an after market heavy duty clutch will be fitted this week. I do very little off road driving and very little towing. For a 4WD commercial vehicle - Toyota have fallen asleep behind the wheel. What a disgrace!

[mrcranky]

This is normal, 168000 kms in 2007 sr5 petrol, used to tow ski boats and a lot of touring, eg Simpson , cape York .
This clutch is still going strong and I would not bother replacing it before my next trip to desert.

Your low mms is not normal wear and tear,

[ATompkins]

Hi.
I have a 2013 Hilux. 3.0 D-4D SR purchased in Jan 2014. I hired a similar 2012 model in Namibia and drove 6000km through some rugged country and was sold on Hilux. So on my return to Australia bought one. However at about 3000km I took it to Bribie Island and in some very mild sand driving the clutch started to overheat badly. I have been there many times in other vehicle types and never had issues except in the Hilux. I don't tow anything and this problem occurs even when lightly loaded but always when in 4WD.

Toyota dealer was very good and replaced it without an issue. However the next trip with the new clutch it got hot again when doing very little work. I have come to the conclusion these vehicles have a seriously under rated clutch and Toyota don't seem to openly admit it. I guess most of the 4WD utes of this type don't end up in 4WD drive conditions and may be fine for on road work but they are definitely not designed for off road conditions. I just wish the salesman had pointed this out and then I would have ordered an auto instead. Otherwise it is a great vehicle and enjoy it but this is a serious fault.

Surely Toyota should fit a heavy duty clutch version under warranty if this is an issue? If I did fit a heavy duty version would it affect the warranty?

Any recommendations on the course of action and what clutch should be fitted?

The dealer has been very good but I guess they can only try their best to back up what Toyota have designed.

[mrcranky]

There must have been a clutch change since 2007, what your describing is not the hilux I purchased.
That's all, I can't advise on what path to take but after market sound good

[BIGFOOTJR]

Hi.
I have a 2013 Hilux. 3.0 D-4D SR purchased in Jan 2014. I hired a similar 2012 model in Namibia and drove 6000km through some rugged country and was sold on Hilux. So on my return to Australia bought one. However at about 3000km I took it to Bribie Island and in some very mild sand driving the clutch started to overheat badly. I have been there many times in other vehicle types and never had issues except in the Hilux. I don't tow anything and this problem occurs even when lightly loaded but always when in 4WD.

Toyota dealer was very good and replaced it without an issue. However the next trip with the new clutch it got hot again when doing very little work. I have come to the conclusion these vehicles have a seriously under rated clutch and Toyota don't seem to openly admit it. I guess most of the 4WD utes of this type don't end up in 4WD drive conditions and may be fine for on road work but they are definitely not designed for off road conditions. I just wish the salesman had pointed this out and then I would have ordered an auto instead. Otherwise it is a great vehicle and enjoy it but this is a serious fault.

Surely Toyota should fit a heavy duty clutch version under warranty if this is an issue? If I did fit a heavy duty version would it affect the warranty?

Any recommendations on the course of action and what clutch should be fitted?

The dealer has been very good but I guess they can only try their best to back up what Toyota have designed.

Toyota will not fit a heavy duty clutch under warranty, been there done that with my previous hilux. I had three genuine clutch replacements within 100,000km, sold it just out of warranty and bought an auto.

Go with a warranty repair, chances are you'll need another clutch close to 100,000km anyway so fit a heavy duty one then. Could be something else going on and fitting an aftermarket clutch will void your warranty, what happens if it turns out to be something else causing the issue? I'd be taking it to another dealership with the hope they are more cluey than the last mob!

[mrcranky]

New clutch under warranty every 3000kms , sorry but that's gotta shit ya, there's gota be more to it

[gsh1po]

After a letter to the CEO of Toyota Australia, one of his boffins rang me and apologised for not writing back sooner. They are investing the matter internally and will get back to me. Meanwhile, I have dropped the boat anchor clutch, pressure plate and flywheel into RACQ and if I don't get a satisfactory result from Toyota, they can prepare a mechanical engineer's technical report and take the matter to QCAT (the old small claims tribunal). The report will cost $350, but there is a good chance that they will win as they have won cases for differing warranty issues before. The mob at Mackay Toyota wrote back to me and still refused to honour the warranty, so lets see what Toyota Australia do.

[evl253]

funny my boss came back from a service managers meeting a week ago where they were told if its in warranty period just replace it. lost count of the amount of hilux clutches that we have replaced. one last week got another 2 in line to do currently

[mrcranky]

So these clutches aren't up to scratch, can you guys that are on this forum that work for Toyota explain to the rest of us why my 2007 mod. Hasn't suffered the same fate

[boxhead55]

I had a 2007 and went every where abd did not replace the clutch. My new 2013 is just the same not a problem as yet now over 60 000 km and still fine. I tow I 4x4 and I have recovered with it. No problems.

[outbackjoe]

there must be some underlying issues with these early clutch failures. Mine is original at 120k and traveled around oz loaded to the brim, did a butt load of offroading.

[evl253]

my 09 has 120k on the original clutch. works fine. when off road I always use low range same as low speed uphill starts towing a loaded car trailer. ability to use low range 2wd comes in handy.